7. Testimony Non-Christian Writers (4)

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas (ca. 130 AD)

Little more is known of the life and history of Roman historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas than that he was the chief secretary of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD) with access to imperial records. Suetonius makes two references to Christ and Christians:

“Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christus], he [Claudius] expelled them from the city.” [14]

This quote refers to an uproar in the Jewish community in Rome in 49 AD that caused Claudius to expel all Jews. This is what apparently had happened to Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18:2: “There he [Paul] met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.”

Suetonius’ second reference is to Nero’s persecution of Christians:

“After the great fire at Rome …Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief.” [15]

In these two references Suetonius confirms that:

• In 49 AD Jews in Rome caused “disturbances” because of Christ. Likely there was already a Christian church in Rome at that time (only 16 years after the resurrection).
• Christians were persecuted by Nero in 64 AD (and that there must have been a large enough Christian population in Rome to have them be identified as such).

Thallus (ca. 52 AD) via Julius Africanus (ca. 221 AD)

A questionable reference to events surrounding the crucifixion comes indirectly through the third century early church writer Julius Africanus who refers to a lost historical work from the first century Samaritan-born historian Thallus. Julius Africanus (160-240 AD) writes:

“On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun…Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth—manifestly that one of which we speak.^” [16]

Apparently, in 52 AD Thallus tried to explain a mysterious darkness (the one mentioned in Matthew 27:45 during the crucifixion?) as an eclipse of the sun. Julius Africanus argues that in the middle of the lunar month (the 14^th of Nisan, the Passover) a solar eclipse is not possible. Additionally he refers to a writing of Phlegon, also lost, that records this eclipse.

The indirect reference and its link to the crucifixion leave this quote subject to questions. Still, it is quite intriguing to find a supernatural event referred to by a non-Christian source.

Pliny the Younger (ca. 61-113 AD)

Roman administrator Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus) became consul by the year 100 AD. Ten years later Emperor Trajan sent him to Bithynia (present-day Turkey ) to look into irregularities in its administration. During this time he wrote to the emperor for advice about how to deal with Christians in his province, because he was executing so many of them. Pliny wrote around 112 AD (extract from much longer letter):

“They [the Christians] were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind..^{” [17]}

From Pliny’s letter it follows that:

• The Christians worshiped Christ as a god.
• They committed themselves to high ethical values.
• Likely they celebrated communion on a fixed day before it was light.
• By early second century a fairly large Christian community existed in Bithynia .

Emperor Trajan replies to Pliny’s letter by writing:

“The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is extremely proper. It is not possible to lay down any general rule which can be applied as the fixed standard in all cases of this nature. No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our Gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion. Informations without the accuser’s name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone, as it is introducing a very dangerous precedent, and by no means agreeable to the spirit of the age.” [18]

Trajan’s letter does not yield additional confirmations of the Biblical text or the early church, but these valuable insights into official Roman views about the growing movement are vital. It also shows that the persecutions occurred and Christians were martyred during the days of Trajan with some slight moderation and consideration.

The Jewish Talmud (ca. 70-200 AD)

The Talmud is a collection of oral Jewish traditions (the Mishnah) and commentaries (the Gemaras). Talmudic writings of most value to Christian history are from 70-200 AD. By far the most significant text is Sanhedrin 43a:

“On the eve of the Passover Yeshu [Jesus] was hanged [crucified]. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, ‘He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.’ But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!” [19]

As might be expected, this account seems to include some Jewish colored observation about a 40 day period of announcement.  It is solid confirmation of the fact and the date of execution by “hanging”, a word to mean “crucified” (see similar words in Galatians 3:13 and Luke 23:39).

Lucian of Samosata (second century AD)

A second century Greek writer, Lucian of Samosata, wrote a rather sarcastic critique of Christianity:

“The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. . . . You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on faith, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property.”[20]

Lucian’s satire shows that:

• The Christians worship a crucified man, Christ.
• Christ introduced new teachings for which He was crucified.
• The Christians follow Christ’s laws and are willing to die for it.